April 2005: Iraq has a new carrier, Ishtar Airlines (ISH), founded by a group of former Iraqi Airways (IRQ) pilots. Operating a 737-200 leased from Dolphin Aviation (FDN), a UAE-based company, the airline made its first flight on April 1, and initially is operating on a Thursday and Sunday from Dubai to Baghdad, and on a Saturday from Dubai to Arbil (Hawler), 200 miles further north in the Kurdish region. To date, load factors have been in the 80% LF region. The airline plans to operate into Basra out of Dubai from June, when that city's airport is expected to open for commercial operations. An MD-83 is also being used for executive operations. Eden Travel is the exclusive agent in the UK.